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WASHINGTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY     (Washington County, Utah)

DIXIE SUN BOWL

(aka ST. GEORGE SUN BOWL or SUNBOWL)

St. George, Utah

LOCATION

150 South 400 East
St. George, UT 84770
http://www.sgcity.org/parks/cityparks/sunbowl.php


HISTORY

Around 1940, the Lions Club formed a committee to pursue the idea of a dedicated rodeo arena. That committee originally consisted of Neal Lundberg, Reid Leigh, Rulon Snow, and Ez McArthur. Later, a finance committee was formed with Dr. L. W. McGregor as chairman and Clark Blake and George Pace as members. A 49-year lease with an option of 50 more was obtained on some city property where the Four Seasons is now.

World War II put the project on hold, but the committees remained active and funds were gradually being accumulated. The project started up in earnest again in 1946.

In January of 1947, construction was begun in a swampy area south of 100 South and east of 400 East. The arena was ready for use the following September after expenditures of about $35,000.

Since then, several additional phases have been completed, including concession stands, corral work, and extensive cement work.

Early in the building phase, the newspaper had announced a contest to name the new facility. Bobbie Laub, son of Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Laub of Santa Clara, won the $15 prize with the name "Dixie Sun Bowl".


PHOTOS

Sun Bowl and Surrounding Area
WCHS-00877   Aerial View of the Sun Bowl the and Surrounding Area

Aerial view of the Dixie Sun Bowl
WCHS-03872   Newly constructed Sun Bowl and the St. George Municipal Power Plant in the background

Other WCHS photos:
WCHS-00876   Postcard photo of the Dixie Sunbowl in 1948
WCHS-00878   Postcard photo of the Dixie Sunbowl
WCHS-03871   Aerial photo of St. George including the Sun Bowl, Power Plant, and parts west
WCHS-03873   Photo of the Dixie Sun Bowl under construction
WCHS-03874   Photo of workers constructing the cement benches on the south side of the Dixie Sun Bowl
WCHS-03875   Photo of a man (LeGrand Frei?) spraying gunite on the cement benches of the new Dixie Sun Bowl
WCHS-03876   Photo of workers finishing the cement benches along the south side of the Dixie Sun Bowl

Other SUU photos:   (See the source list)
SUU-0009   Photo of an unidentified group of men with horses on the stairs of the Sunbowl in St. George
SUU-0010   Photo of an unidentified young girl on a horse in the arena of the Dixie Sunbowl in St. George
SUU-0011   Photo of eight unidentified individuals and two horses on the steps of the Dixie Sunbowl in St. George
SUU-0012   Photo of eight unidentified individuals and two horses on the steps of the Dixie Sunbowl in St. George
SUU-0013   Photo of people and Horses on the Steps of the Sunbowl
SUU-0014   Photo of eight unidentified individuals and two horses on the steps of the Dixie Sunbowl in St. George
SUU-0015   Photo of the 1950 May Pole dance for Dixie High School at the Dixie Sunbowl in St. George
SUU-0016   Photo of three unidentified men standing with a horse in the Sunbowl Arena in St. George
SUU-0017   Photo of and unidentified man on horse in front of the Dixie Sunbowl in St. George


REFERENCES

Building The Sun Bowl
Article in the St. George Magazine, [Date?], pp. 30, 33, and 74

William Way's blog on Building the Sun Bowl

City's plan would save Sun Bowl, Council to take first steps in tentative plan
Article by David DeMille
The Spectrum,   January 20, 2015,   Pages A1 and A3

Elks Field sale could preserve Sun Bowl, School site has other benefits
Article by David DeMille
The Spectrum,   January 22, 2015,   Pages A1 and A3

In Our View: Sun Bowl
Editorial in The Spectrum,   January 25, 2015,   Page A6

Proposal could salvage Sun Bowl's future
St. George Magazine,   January 2015,   Page 31

In Search of Community Spirit
by Lyman Hafen
St. George Magazine,   April 2015,   Page 46
This article provides a thoughtful discussion of the pros and cons of saving the Sun Bowl.